Maha Cabinet approves 50% quota for women in local bodies

Mumbai: In a significant development, the Cabinet of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday approved a Bill that aims to provide 50% reservation to women in local bodies.

After the Cabinet approval, the Bill would now be introduced in the ensuing Budget Session of the state legislature in order to become a law.
While interacting with women journalists in Mumbai on the International Women`s Day, Chavan had promised to introduce such legislation in the State Assembly soon.

“The Centre has already taken a decision to give 50% quota to women and the state government will abide by it,” Chavan said.
On 33% reservation for women in Assemblies and the Parliament, Chavan said, "We are trying our best to pass the Bill in the Lok Sabha. It has been already approved in Rajya Sabha when I was the Parliamentary Affairs Minister."

Congress ally NCP had already proposed to increase the quota for women in local bodies from 33% to 50%.

In a party meeting held here last month, NCP chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar asked his ministers to meet the CM and make the demand.